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About Christopher

Christopher Mitchell is the Director of the Community Broadband Netwroks Initiative with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. He runs MuniNetworks.org as part of ILSR’s effort to ensure broadband networks are directly accountable to the communities that depend upon them. More

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Featured Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jul 5, 2017

Access Appalachia: Internet Access for Rural America

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/access-appalachia-internet-access-for-rural-america/

Check back on MuniNetworks.org’s Resource Page frequently for updates to Internet access in the Appalachian region. This is the central hub for ILSR’s research on Internet access around the Appalachian United States. We have compiled federal statistics on broadband availability and federal subsidies for large Internet Service Providers. We’ve created detailed maps of 150 counties… Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 13, 2017

Roosevelt Institute Argues for Better Broadband Policy – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 258

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/roosevelt-institute-argues-for-better-broadband-policy-community-broadband-bits-podcast-258/

This is episode 258 of our Community Broadband Bits podcast! Community Broadband Bits is a short weekly audio show featuring interviews with people building community networks or otherwise involved with Internet policy. As the telecommunications and broadband market has become more and more consolidated, it has drawn more attention, leading to more attention from people that… Continue reading

Featured Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on May 20, 2017

New York City Works With Grassroots for Low-Income Access – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 254

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/new-york-city-works-with-grassroots-for-low-income-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-254/

This is episode 254 of our Community Broadband Bits podcast! Community Broadband Bits is a short weekly audio show featuring interviews with people building community networks or otherwise involved with Internet policy. Some time ago, when speaking with Joshua Breitbart, the Senior Advisor for Broadband to the New York City CTO Miguel Gamiño, he mentioned to… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 6, 2017

Quick Reflections on Google Fiber

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/quick-reflections-on-google-fiber/

I have been a Google Fiber supporter, believing that Google’s investments and policy goals would move the United States forward, away from the monopolies of entrenched incumbents. When others claimed that Google was abandoning fiber, I argued that Google had not yet decided… it was arguing internally about the right path.

But now I think it is pretty clear that Google is done with significant fiber investment, particularly for single family residential homes. I have strong doubts that Google will continue with the Huntsville-type approaches of leasing dark fiber, but I hope that will continue. Continue reading

Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Feb 20, 2017

State Needs Better Broadband, Not Subsidies

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/state-needs-better-broadband-not-subsidies/

Knoxville News Sentinel – February 19, 2017

If you were tasked with improving the internet access across Tennessee, a good first start would be to examine what is working and what’s not. But when the General Assembly debates broadband, it frequently focuses on what AT&T and Comcast want rather than what is working. Continue reading

Featured Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jan 26, 2017

Trump’s FCC Pick Bodes Poorly for Net Neutrality & Broadband Competition

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/trumps-fcc-pick-bodes-poorly-for-net-neutrality-broadband-competition/

Donald Trump picked his FCC chairman much earlier than anyone expected, though Ajit Pai is not a very big surprise. Formerly a lawyer for Verizon, Pai has been a constant voice in favor of large incumbent cable and telephone positions, especially opposing the Open Internet Order, known more commonly as network neutrality. Continue reading

Featured Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jan 10, 2017

How 2017 Will Transform Broadband Opportunities for Local Governments

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/how-2017-will-transform-broadband-opportunities-for-local-governments/

StateScoop – January 10, 2017 Commentary: Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance predicts new connectivity opportunities and an altered broadband landscape as a pro-business Trump administration prepares to disrupt the status quo. This may well be the year of local government broadband solutions. For some communities, it will be because they are prepared… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Oct 27, 2016

Google Fiber Pauses – But No One Else Should

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/google-fiber-pauses-but-no-one-else-should/

Google Fiber has finally announced its plans for the future after weeks of dramatic speculation that it will lay off half its workforce and give up on fiber-optics entirely. Google has now confirmed our expectations: they are pausing new Google Fiber cities, continuing to expand within those where they have a presence, and focusing on… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on May 12, 2016

Minnesota’s Broadband Grant Program: Getting the Rules Right

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/mn-border-to-border-grant-program/

Minneapolis, MN —In its first two years of implementation, the Minnesota Border-to-Border program distributed $30 million to 31 rural Minnesota communities. But the state has not put enough money into the program and needs to put more focus on getting investment in Greater Minnesota cities to spur economic development. “This funding is essential to greater Minnesota… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Apr 18, 2016

RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for new Rural Internet Cooperative

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/report-mn-rural-fiber/

21ST CENTURY FARMS REQUIRE 21ST CENTURY CONNECTIVITY. Denied Access by telephone and cable companies, they created a new model. Winthrop, MN — A new trend is emerging in rural communities throughout the United States: Fiber-to-the-Farm. Tired of waiting for real Internet access from big companies, farmers are building it themselves. Communities in and around Minnesota’s… Continue reading